 | Parliamentary Letters, and Other Poems |  |
91
A TRIP TO PORTSMOUTH.
(A FACT.)
A country farmer who, by constant care,
Had realised some hundred pounds a-year;
Thought that as Jonathan, his only son,
Had just attain'd the age of twenty-one;
'Twas surely time the hopeful youth should see
Something of fashion and gentility:
He therefore purchased him a Sunday coat,
Furnish'd his pockets with a ten-pound note,
And sent him forth, to rove a month or two,
And visit Portsmouth and the grand review.
Had realised some hundred pounds a-year;
Thought that as Jonathan, his only son,
Had just attain'd the age of twenty-one;
'Twas surely time the hopeful youth should see
Something of fashion and gentility:
He therefore purchased him a Sunday coat,
Furnish'd his pockets with a ten-pound note,
And sent him forth, to rove a month or two,
And visit Portsmouth and the grand review.
The youth, who innocently thought, 'till then,
That all mankind were Zomerzetshire men,
Nor dreamt the world could possibly contain
One foot of ground beyond his native plain;
Now look'd around,—and view'd, with vast delight,
The varied scenes that met his aching sight;
Whilst every joy the former far surpass'd,
And each new wonderment excell'd the last.
That all mankind were Zomerzetshire men,
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One foot of ground beyond his native plain;
Now look'd around,—and view'd, with vast delight,
The varied scenes that met his aching sight;
Whilst every joy the former far surpass'd,
And each new wonderment excell'd the last.
At length the period of return is come,
And Jonathan prepares to journey home;
Resolving in his way to pass an hour
Near Winton's vale, and famed St. Cross's tower.
And Jonathan prepares to journey home;
Resolving in his way to pass an hour
Near Winton's vale, and famed St. Cross's tower.
Onward he rides, with slow and pensive pace,
Noting the rural beauties of the place:
When lo! as near St. Catherine's hill he's straying,
The College boys, as usual, there were playing;
And in their sable gowns, with smiling faces,
Upon the grassy steep were running races;
Awhile he paused,—astonish'd at the fun:
Thought 'twas exceeding odd, and then rode on.
Noting the rural beauties of the place:
When lo! as near St. Catherine's hill he's straying,
The College boys, as usual, there were playing;
And in their sable gowns, with smiling faces,
Upon the grassy steep were running races;
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Thought 'twas exceeding odd, and then rode on.
On his return, with sage and knowing mien,
He thus relates the wonders he has seen;
“Father, I've witness'd mighty men, 'tis true,
“I've seen the kings, the ships, and the review:
“At sturdy Blucher too I've had a peep,
“And in a boat have sail'd upon the deep:
“But oh! dear father, what amazed me most,
“Was—as one morn through Winton's vale I cross'd,
“I saw—(a sight I ne'er did see before)—
“Matter of fifty parsons, aye, and more;
“Black gowns and all! (methinks I see them still)
“Full fifty parsons running down a hill!!!”
He thus relates the wonders he has seen;
“Father, I've witness'd mighty men, 'tis true,
“I've seen the kings, the ships, and the review:
“At sturdy Blucher too I've had a peep,
“And in a boat have sail'd upon the deep:
“But oh! dear father, what amazed me most,
“Was—as one morn through Winton's vale I cross'd,
“I saw—(a sight I ne'er did see before)—
“Matter of fifty parsons, aye, and more;
“Black gowns and all! (methinks I see them still)
“Full fifty parsons running down a hill!!!”
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